Gender differences in occupational outcomes after master’s degree: Does a STEM degree moderate the gender gap?

Abstract

This paper analyses gender disparities in the transition from university to work among Italian master’s degree graduates. Using AlmaLaurea data (2018-2023) from three universities, we construct two ordinal occupational outcomes one year after graduation. Adjacent category logit models with partial proportional odds are estimated. The results show that women have significantly lower chances than men of entering the labour market, but once hired, their probability of holding a job matching their skills is similar. STEM degrees improve both employment and over-all matching outcomes; however, the female disadvantage in labour market entry persists even among STEM graduates.